Where Are They Now?
Q: Catch us up. Tell us what you’re doing today:
A: After graduating high school, I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree from John Carroll University in 2007. Following my undergraduate studies, I returned to Pittsburgh and conducted clinical research at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. I completed my medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013. After medical school, I was commissioned into the U.S. Army and completed a surgical internship at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Eisenhower, Georgia. I then earned my flight surgeon badge and completed an operational medical tour as a flight surgeon with the 3rd Battalion 1st Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Riley, Kansas. I then returned to Fort Eisenhower to complete my orthopedic surgery residency at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center. Following residency, I was assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska. I gained extensive experience in treating sports-related injuries and was promoted to the chief of the orthopedic department. I was honorably discharged from the Army as a Major and returned home to Pittsburgh. In the fall I joined a private orthopedic practice, Sports Medicine & Joint Replacement Specialists. We have offices in Warrendale, Mount Lebanon and Greensburg.
Q: What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
A: I love to travel. My most recent trip was to Armenia.
Q: What do you think makes Seneca Valley such a special place to learn and grow?
A: Seneca Valley is such a special place to learn and grow because of the sheer variety of opportunities it offers. Being a large school district, it allows students to meet and connect with a wide range of peers, enroll in diverse classes tailored to different academic levels and participate in countless after-school clubs, sports and activities. Truly, there’s something for every interest! As a proud graduate of Seneca Valley over 20 years ago, I’m amazed to see how much it has grown and evolved. The district has done an incredible job of keeping up with the times while staying committed to fostering an environment of learning, exploration and community. It’s remarkable to witness how it continues to pave the way for student success!
Q: Who was your favorite teacher/coach/SV staff member?
A: Mr. Bob Ceh. He was the principal and head coach of the football team.
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at Seneca Valley? We’d encourage you to recall a moment or event that had a particularly strong influence on your life.
A: My favorite memories from my time at Seneca Valley involve when I was playing football. These experiences profoundly influenced who I am today. I learned numerous life skills, such as resilience, discipline, competitiveness, teamwork, communication, responsibility and adaptability. I learned that success and achievement come from overcoming adversity, and how to handle loss and setbacks. These lessons were instrumental in my personal growth and success and helped me overcome many personal and professional obstacles in life.
Q: If you had one message for teachers or staff, what would it be?
A: Thank you! I am sincerely grateful for the positive impact my teachers have had on my life. Their influence extends far beyond time spent at Seneca Valley and helps cultivate lifelong learning.
Q: Catch us up. Tell us what you’re doing today:
A: It has been 50 years since I graduated from Seneca Valley. I moved back to the same piece of property that I grew up on into the new Traditions of America at Cranberry 55+ community. In the last 50 years, I got a B.S. degree in math from Bucknell University, class of ‘79, an M.S. degree in computer science from Villanova University, class of ‘85, and a Supervisor’s Certificate in Education from Lehigh University. I was a Systems Analyst for Pennsylvania Power and Light Co. for two years before teaching math and computer science at Emmaus High School in the Lehigh Valley for the next 35 years. During those years, I served as Math & Computer Science Department Chair. I enabled my students to participate in the American Computer Science League (ACSL), an international competition for students in grades 3-12. Teams from Emmaus High School traveled all over the country to compete every Memorial Day weekend. They finished in first place internationally in 1985, 2001 and 2017. I have been subbing at the Seneca Valley, Mars Area, Ambridge, Pine-Richland, North Allegheny, Freedom, Riverside-Beaver, and Rochester School Districts since 2019. I am also on a four-person executive team that runs the ACSL competitions, now completely online, for over 5,000 students worldwide. I am a member of Dutilh United Methodist Church, serve on the Cranberry Township IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity Advisory) Team, teach swimming at the Rose E. Schneider YMCA, and play Bridge.
Q: Please share with us some information about your family.
A: In 1998, I watched a 20-20 documentary about the plight of girls in China and decided to adopt as a single mom. Mei-Ling arrived in the U.S. on February 2, 2000, and just got married on November 16, 2024, to Nick who is from Buffalo, New York, and also graduated from Robert Morris University (RMU). Mei-Ling grew up in the Lehigh Valley and studied Business Administration, Photography and Organizational Leadership for a combined BS/MS degree from RMU in 2021. She works as an event coordinator for Appleseed Events located in Valencia which facilitates a variety of non-profit events in the Pittsburgh area including the Moraine State Park Regatta, Mars New Year, and Light of Life fundraisers. My brother Frank, class of ‘77, went to Northwestern University and has practiced law. My sister Martha, class of ‘79, went to Lehigh University and moved back to Cranberry Township in 1993 and is part owner of Brunner, Blackstone, and Associates Public Accounting Firm. My brother Rodney, class of ‘81, went to Syracuse University and is the self-proclaimed Toastman of the Charleston Dirty Birds, an independent professional baseball team in West Virginia. My mom, Dr. Barbara Bounds Blackstone, passed away in 2013 and my dad, Franklin Blackstone Jr., is 95 years old and living in Allison Park.
Q: What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
A: My parents instilled in me a desire to travel and throughout my life, I have been to all 50 states and 25 countries. Most recently, I took Mei-Ling on a 5-week trip to the Canadian Rockies and a 6-week trip to the Southwestern U.S. while she was still in high school. We traveled all over central Europe via Eurail at the end of her semester abroad in 2019 and took a cruise of the Greek Islands in 2022. We are planning to take a 13-day private tour of China this April. Christian camping has been my most consistent passion and I have spent the last 50 years doing at least one week of camp as a volunteer counselor or Program Director in eastern and western PA.
Q: How did Seneca Valley help you become the person you are today, both personally and professionally?
A: Other than my solid background in math classes and my introduction to computer science, the experiences I had with Academic Games were invaluable throughout the rest of my life. I know American history much better because of Mr. President, recognize faulty reasoning because of Propaganda, understand English grammar because of Linguishtik, and recognize concepts in Discrete Mathematics because of On-Sets. I’ve tried to reconnect with the current program unsuccessfully since I moved back to the area, but I know that many schools nationwide don’t offer these opportunities at all. In fact, I still love Equations, but can’t find anyone to play with! I am contemplating attending my first high school reunion in 50 years and realize I didn’t have many friends back then. I was the oldest of four and no one my age lived near me when we moved to Cranberry Township in 1958. I wasn’t an athlete or in the band and hanging out in the computer lab and doing Academic Games weren't popular activities. I was a year younger than everyone else in my class and knew that I focused on academics since it wasn’t possible for me to be cool! However, those experiences transformed the rest of my life, especially as a single adult. Since then, I have focused on developing long-term friendships with people all over the country. I’ve reconnected with Peggy Kingenbery who was a friend in elementary school and Julia Blum who was probably my closest friend in high school. In leading groups of kids, I have been sensitive to the students who don’t fit in. I have encouraged students to embrace being a “nerd,” take as much computer science as they can before going to college where it’s harder, and be defined by who they are, not just by what they’ve accomplished. I have also cared strongly about improving diversity, equity and inclusion within multicultural settings.
Q: What do you think makes Seneca Valley such a special place to learn and grow?
A: As it turned out, Emmaus High School and Seneca Valley High School have a lot in common with similar demographics: suburban school districts with significant growth, changing demographics in very distinct municipalities, high expectations for students that have somewhat eroded over the years, strong sports and extra-curricular programs, strong parental interest and influence, and high-quality teaching staff. I am thankful that Seneca Valley has moved away from being the Raiders with Native American motifs that can offend some and I am glad that intentional efforts have been made to be more affirming of diversity. However, in a predominantly white, conservative geographic area, much more needs to happen for all students to feel as if they have access to all that the District offers to those more privileged. I was one of them and now try to be an ally for those who aren’t.
Q: Who was your favorite teacher/coach/SV staff member?
A: By far, the most impactful teacher I have ever had was my eighth grade Algebra I teacher Mr. Anderson because I wouldn’t have studied and excelled at math if it hadn’t been for his motivation. I came home every night with a desire to solve the homework problems correctly because I cared about his affirmation, especially since I thought at the time that he didn’t like me because I was a girl! However, I still remember Mrs. Beatty, my first grade teacher; Mrs. Anderson, the Advisor to the Academic Games program; Mrs. McCabe, my 12th grade English teacher who enabled me to write a research paper entitled, “Using Computers to Teach High School Mathematics;" Mr. Parker who was known as “Cemetery Sam” for his deadpan voice, but who prepared me well for success as a math major at Bucknell; and most of all, Mr. Emery who had the vision and background to introduce me to computer science on a PDP-8 minicomputer in 1972. We created programs in BASIC that we put onto rolls of paper tape to send to Slippery Rock’s mainframe by snail mail and got back the next day. If there was a single typo we repeated the process until it worked. I was very fortunate to have been given that opportunity in high school over 50 years ago and it changed my life.
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at Seneca Valley? We’d encourage you to recall a moment or event that had a particularly strong influence on your life.
A: I received the Brother Neal Golden Award in Academic Games my senior year which is given annually to the most outstanding student in the entire country. I hadn’t excelled personally, but I loved helping to coach the junior high school team that won the overall championship that year. It seemed pretty awesome to me, but I remember my mom thinking that it was no surprise at all to her. I also was the SV Class of 1975 valedictorian and would have given the valedictory address, but the ceremony was at the stadium and it started to thunder during the previous speeches which caused them to quickly go inside where they simply handed out diplomas and left. It was, admittedly, very disappointing, but they published my speech in the paper and I gave it multiple times to family and friends instead of doing it once for everyone. I have been a confident public speaker ever since.
Q: If you had one message for teachers or staff, what would it be?
A: As a retired teacher, I have a unique perspective on how education has changed over the last 50 years. A greater emphasis on state and national testing has put expectations for concrete levels of success based on academic achievement alone. That has been coupled with “helicopter parent” syndrome and the high cost of college without scholarship help, both of which have compelled parents to push their children to excel and to never let them try anything that could cause them to fail. I preached that “you learn much more from your failures than from your successes” and “learning for learning’s sake has more long-term benefits than getting a grade.” I also loved going to school which is quite rare for today’s students. Virtual education, cell phone use, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are here to stay, but I would encourage the administrative staff and teachers to still require students to use pencil and paper to show their process in solving problems, to implement and enforce a cell phone policy, and to emphasize the importance of integrity in all that you do. I also believe that if administrators would simply affirm all that the teachers do as opposed to making their job more difficult with more expectations and paperwork, they would be more motivated to do the best job they can inside and outside the classroom. Student apathy and teacher burnout don’t bode well for an educated populus.
Q: What do you wish other people knew about Seneca Valley?
A: I know that school choice doesn’t exist in the Pennsylvania public school system and that parents choose districts for their children based on where they live. Therefore, some have greater access to “good” school districts than others. Since I have had an opportunity to substitute teach in a variety of districts, I believe that Seneca Valley is still one of the best school districts in this area. The real proof that I am proud to be a graduate of Seneca Valley High School is that my dream would be for my grandchildren to attend there. However, I am not buying their house for them!
Q: Please share with us some information about your family.
A: My parents now live outside of Myrtle Beach in a little town and are (slowly) on their way to retirement. My father, who is also an SV alumni, spends his mornings walking the beach and seems to have befriended some seagulls along the way. My mother continues to work from home with a view of their pond and a nice day in the sun.
Q: What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
A: I think someone may be surprised to know that I went into the robotics/STEM field. I originally started in fashion and thought that's where I would make my career. However, that plan changed, and I couldn't be happier or more grateful for where I ended up.
Q: How did Seneca Valley help you become the person you are today, both personally and professionally?
A: I attended Seneca Valley K-12, so I experienced all my childhood and early adolescent growth within the school district. SV gave me a wide outlook and perspective, which I didn't realize until I had gotten to college. I will always remember what my second and third grade teacher Mrs. Lintelman, who is now retired, taught us: to do random acts of kindness for others. We would write these acts down and share them with the class at the end of the week. I think that is a lesson everyone could learn and appreciate, no matter what age. Looking back, this is an exceptional way to encourage positive behavior in children and should be implemented in every classroom. Mrs. Lintelman didn’t just create a sharp group of students, but a group of kids who would become better adults.
Q: What do you think makes Seneca Valley such a special place to learn and grow?
A: I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the education I received at SV and West Virginia University. Having the opportunity to take advanced and college-level courses in high school gave me more time to take on opportunities that other peers were passing by. I was able to go to classes, keep good grades, work a part-time job, and complete my internship while in my senior year of college due to the work I had put in during my earlier years. I wouldn't have the job or role I have now without the ability to take those opportunities. Going to a larger school growing up enabled me to be outgoing with others in situations I may be unfamiliar with. Seneca Valley is such a special place to learn and grow. The level of education students receive is above the bar. With the new buildings and available classes, I can only imagine how the students and school will grow!
Q: Who was your favorite teacher/coach/SV staff member?
A: Other than Mrs. Lintelman, some stand-out teachers during my time at Seneca Valley were Mr. Hanlon, my high school history teacher, and Ms. Skwortz, who taught accounting.
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at Seneca Valley? We’d encourage you to recall a moment or event that had a particularly strong influence on your life.
A: When I think back to some of my best moments at Seneca Valley, obviously the big moments come to mind. Though I was a 2020 graduate and did not receive the same type of graduation as classes in prior years, I think about the effort faculty, staff, parents and students put into making our graduation the best it could be. Teachers from what seemed to be a distant past, traveled to our houses to remind us that they were still there even if school looked much different. A more lighthearted time that meant a lot to me was our Team Olympics in eighth grade. I was on the Eagles team and our homeroom with Mr. Sample won. It was so fun to play like "little kids during field day" one last time.
Q: If you had one message for teachers or staff, what would it be?
A: A lasting message to the teachers and staff would be: Thank you and what you do matters. Education is one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself, but it simply cannot be done without the talent, time and patience that SVSD teachers and faculty offer. You don’t realize the sacrifices behind a positive environment until you grow and understand the challenges others face.
Q: What do you wish other people knew about Seneca Valley?
A: I wish all educators could see the level of care and consideration teachers at this school put into their work and, in turn, equal effort into the students. I never felt like any of the teachers at SV were at "work." It was as if they appeared in front of us every day with full plans that they magically prepared the night before. Having been a working individual since I could get my permit and now post-graduation with a full-time job, I understand what it is like to have to go to work and all the preparation that goes into it. Thankfully, my job is amazing, and I am extremely grateful for the time and opportunities Neya has given me. I am extremely excited for my future, wherever it may take me. Thank you, Seneca Valley!
Q: Catch us up. Tell us what you’re doing today:
A: I am a senior at Mercyhurst University. I am currently completing my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and I also carry minors in History and Political Science. I have been fortunate enough to be placed on the Dean’s List my first three years, as well as maintaining membership with the Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society. Along with that, I also serve as President of Mercyhurst’s Alpha Phi Sigma chapter, the national honors society for Criminal Justice. I have maintained this position for the last two years after being elected at the end of my sophomore year. Finally, I have been a member of the Mercyhurst Club hockey program throughout my time in college. I was named captain midway through my sophomore year, and last year our team clinched the league championship for our conference.
Q: Please share with us some information about your family.
A: I have two amazing parents, Dan and Gayle, who have taught me how to succeed and lead in the adult world. My sister Karen is a Bio-behavioral health/Pre-med major at Penn State University. My brother Aidan is a senior at Seneca Valley and plans to major in Engineering with a preference for aeronautical. Our family also includes three dogs: Tess, Finn and Tucker.
Q: What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
A: Someone might be surprised to know that I spent this past summer working an internship in Washington, D.C.
Q: How did Seneca Valley help you become the person you are today, both personally and professionally?
A: In terms of my personal life, Seneca Valley gave me the opportunity to fail, learn from those failures and ultimately discover how a person can truly succeed. Whether that be regarding friends, relationships or just general struggles, Seneca Valley allowed me to grow along my own pathway. Professionally, Seneca Valley also helped me to prepare for life in the business world. Career development, which I took senior year, provided me with resume advice, interview tips and a wealth of other knowledge I still use today.
Q: What do you think makes Seneca Valley such a special place to learn and grow?
A: Seneca Valley is a special place to both learn and grow because of the mindset instilled by teachers and administrators. Seneca Valley gives each student the opportunity to learn in their own way, and presents them with a host of activities/sports to pursue. At the same time, although we have this freedom, the entire school structure recognizes the necessity of a non-disruptive learning environment. By combining these two elements, the school becomes a place that is safe, easy to navigate, enjoyable to be in and conducive to success in one’s education.
Q: Who was your favorite teacher/coach/SV staff member?
A: I have two teachers that were my favorites at SV. The first is Ms. Langley, who taught me AP (Advanced Placement) Statistics my junior year. I still wonder what class would have been like if not for virtual learning during COVID-19, as I would have been the only student remaining in the final weeks after the seniors graduated. The second is Miss Thomas! Although I know she has since married and thus changed her name, the memory of sharing excitement with each other every day still brings warm feelings to my heart. I hope both these amazing women have continued to find happiness since my time at the school.
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at Seneca Valley? We’d encourage you to recall a moment or event that had a particularly strong influence on your life.
A: One memory that sticks out for me is winning the Keith Anger Leadership Award as a junior for the Seneca Valley Inline Hockey Association. This award is presented to one junior each season who exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice. At this point in my life, I had come to recognize that I could be a leader, but I had not figured out how to present myself as one in the most effective way possible. Winning this award opened my eyes to the potential I held, and through multiple opportunities in both the workplace and school over the following years, I have been blessed to maximize that potential.
Q: If you had one message for teachers or staff, what would it be?
A: Never underestimate the influence that you have on a student(s). Some will naturally be troublesome or inattentive, but recognizing whose life you can truly change is vital. Schooling and career decisions can be changed because of one’s experience in a particular classroom, and that is truly something special.
Q: What do you wish other people knew about Seneca Valley?
A: I wish others recognized how rare a school like Seneca Valley is today. Not only are we fortunate to live in a relatively safe area with a population that recognizes the cruciality of education, but we also are a part of a district that does not rest on its laurels. I visited the new Ehrman Crest Elementary/Middle School two summers ago during my internship with the Cranberry Twp. Police Department. It amazed me how advanced much of that building is compared to my experiences within the last 15 years. Not many children get to experience this kind of modernization. I find it important for the students and their faculty to embrace this opportunity, and recognize what it can provide them.
Q: Catch us up. Tell us what you’re doing today:
A: Currently, I am in my third year at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland studying Neuroscience. I have assisted in research studies such as long-term COVID cases in vulnerable populations and lung cancer biomarker review as well as volunteering at the Evidence-Based Early Diagnosis medical conference. I like to balance my studies with exercising on the triathlon team and traveling throughout Europe.
Q: Please share with us some information about your family.
A: I have a twin sister, Eva, who is at Virginia Tech and a younger brother, Liam, who is a senior at Seneca Valley and applying to colleges. My mother owns a small business in Zelienople and my father is a civil engineer. Both my parents are very supportive, and I learn so much from them. I miss my family very much when I am away, but we FaceTime so much that I don’t miss out on too much.
Q: What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
A: Someone might be surprised to know that I have lived in Scotland before. My family lived here when I was 7-12 years old because my dad was building a bridge in Edinburgh. We lived in a small town called Dollar in the foothills of the Ochils – that’s part of the reason that I came back here to study.
Q: How did Seneca Valley help you become the person you are today, both personally and professionally?
A: Seneca Valley has a wide range of opportunities that I felt I could explore my interests through. Socially and scholastically, I grew a lot through experiences I had on the cross-country team, swim team, student council and student government.
Q: What do you think makes Seneca Valley such a special place to learn and grow?
A: Seneca Valley is a special place to learn and grow because it offers amazing opportunities for students to challenge themselves. From rigorous AP (Advanced Placement) classes to competitive sports teams, there’s always a chance to push your limits. The supportive environment and diverse programs ensure that everyone can find their path.
Q: Who was your favorite teacher/coach/SV staff member?
A: My favorite teacher was Mr. Durst from the Ryan Gloyer Middle School Bobcats team in seventh grade. He was both my homeroom and science teacher. His class was always so much fun - from events like salsa day to our everyday mornings when he played the song "Easy Street" in homeroom—it still gets stuck in my head sometimes!
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at Seneca Valley? We’d encourage you to recall a moment or event that had a particularly strong influence on your life.
A: One of my favorite memories from Seneca Valley was making the swim team my junior year. Coming from a triathlon background, I only knew front crawl and had failed to make the team the year before. I spent the next year training in club sessions with younger, faster swimmers, pushing myself to improve. When I finally made the team, I really understood just how much hard work and perseverance can help me reach my goals. Even more special, that was the year the Aquatic Center opened!
Q: If you had one message for teachers or staff, what would it be?
A: One message I have for teachers would be thank you very much for all of your work. I appreciate how much you care for us as students, and it is helpful to be learning in such a supportive environment.
Q: What do you wish other people knew about Seneca Valley?
A: I wish other people knew how talented the kids are at SV. Many of my friends have strengths in many different areas. Seneca Valley is a place that lets these strengths grow in opportunities of arts, STEM, sports and leadership.